‘Don’t you dare’ give in to temptations at university, Cambridge magistrate warns student Jack Low after he is caught with cannabis, MDMA and hallucinogenic mushrooms

Magistrates have given a stark warning to a student caught with drugs not to “dare” give into temptations as they give him a second chance so he can go to university.

Jack Low, of Blinco Grove in Cambridge, pleaded guilty to possession of MDMA and psilocin, a hallucinogenic mushroom, and possession with intent to supply of cannabis at Cambridge Magistrates’ Court.

The 18-year-old was stopped on his bike in Cambridge last November where police found £373 worth of cannabis.

When his mobile phone was checked, officers found texts suggesting he was supplying the drugs and when his home was searched, mushrooms and MDMA were found.

But Jeff Lewis, mitigating, said the MDMA and mushrooms were for personal use and Low was “addressing many issues in his life” and taking steps to address his “bad behaviour”.

He said: “This is a massive wake up call for this young man. Clearly he has acted very foolishly. He has done a lot of soul searching and recrimination in relation to his lifestyle.

“He has been read the riot act on the situation he has got himself into. He wants to leave his stupid habits behind him.”

Chief magistrate Julie Ferguson questioned Low on his future plans and the International Baccalaureate student said that while he had wanted to be a police constable before his convictions, he was now set to study psychology at university.

Ms Ferguson sentenced the student to 100 hours of unpaid work, which had to be completed by September. He was also ordered to pay £85 costs and a £60 victim surcharge.

She said: “You are in very serious trouble and I suspect much of your remorse has developed from the fact you were caught. We want you to move onto the next stage of your life and leave this stage of it behind.

“You have limited a lot of options for your life as a result of this. We hope you are able to move on to university in September and put this behind you.

“You will be exposed to a lot of temptations and risks when you go to university and I am looking you straight in the eye and saying don’t you dare.”